Obama bestows Medal of Honor on Nashua veteran

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is bestowing the Medal of Honor on a former Army staff sergeant who fought off enemy fighters during one of the bloodiest battles of the Afghanistan war.

Ryan M. Pitts is the ninth living recipient of the nation's highest decoration for battlefield valor for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama says Pitts displays "the humility and loyalty" that define America's men and women in uniform. Obama noted that the 28-year-old Pitts has said his honor belongs to everyone who was with him during the July 13, 2008 attack in Wanat, Afghanistan.

Pitts was injured in the attack. But despite losing blood from wounds in both legs and an arm, he continued to fire at about 200 Taliban fighters and guided air strikes that helped repel the attack.

Pitts resides in Nashua and works at Oracle Corp. in Burlington. He resided in Lowell for a short time.